Practice Drills

[mdwest]

I don't see anybody commenting on shooting under pressure, with a elevated heart rate and bumpy nerves. Almost everybody can shoot straight when you are calm and have time to take a shot.
Running, then rapidly emptying my magazine on a set of steel gongs with my DG rifle has helped me ramp up my capabilities when shooting under pressure.

The challenge for most people is going to be having a place to do that sort of training..

While some folks own a bit of property and can just walk out the back door and shoot however they want.. most are going to be limited to a public or private range facility and their rules for use..

Its been hard enough around here to find a range that will allow me to shoot off of sticks as opposed to sitting at their bench..

For pistol, finding a range that will let you run an IDPA/ISPC, etc style course isnt all that difficult.. there are a couple of places within reasonable driving distance of DFW that you can run 3 gun type courses and use a shotgun or MSR type rifle as well..

But I havent found anywhere that I can run with a 375 for a distance and then dump the M70's mag on a steel gong at DG distances (0-50 yards)..

 

[Lone Star Bluegrass]

The challenge for most people is going to be having a place to do that sort of training..

While some folks own a bit of property and can just walk out the back door and shoot however they want.. most are going to be limited to a public or private range facility and their rules for use..

Its been hard enough around here to find a range that will allow me to shoot off of sticks as opposed to sitting at their bench..

For pistol, finding a range that will let you run an IDPA/ISPC, etc style course isnt all that difficult.. there are a couple of places within reasonable driving distance of DFW that you can run 3 gun type courses and use a shotgun or MSR type rifle as well..

But I havent found anywhere that I can run with a 375 for a distance and then dump the M70's mag on a steel gong at DG distances (0-50 yards)..

Agreed. Most ranges have regs banning steel targets entirely for rifles, or caliber limitations targeting .338 Lapua type cartridges (range fan limits) that de facto prohibit medium and large bore rifles from being fired at their facilities.

 

[IvW]

It is great practicing these drills. With open sites one tends to shoot high under duress.....drill yourself to not pull the trigger no matter the situation if the sights are not on the right spot....a first off target shot is one thing but off target shots in a charge situation can get you killed....banging away and thinking there is hope because there is lead in the air will end up being disasterous....

 

[Lone Star Bluegrass]

What size steel targets do you guys shoot? I’m assuming 0.5” thick AR500 (because that’s the biggest I can find!), what diameter, shape, etc?

 

[PietVis]

The challenge for most people is going to be having a place to do that sort of training..

While some folks own a bit of property and can just walk out the back door and shoot however they want.. most are going to be limited to a public or private range facility and their rules for use..

Its been hard enough around here to find a range that will allow me to shoot off of sticks as opposed to sitting at their bench..

For pistol, finding a range that will let you run an IDPA/ISPC, etc style course isnt all that difficult.. there are a couple of places within reasonable driving distance of DFW that you can run 3 gun type courses and use a shotgun or MSR type rifle as well..

But I havent found anywhere that I can run with a 375 for a distance and then dump the M70's mag on a steel gong at DG distances (0-50 yards)..

There are less, or no regulations in African countries..

 

[PietVis]

What size steel targets do you guys shoot? I’m assuming 0.5” thick AR500 (because that’s the biggest I can find!), what diameter, shape, etc?

I used 10" gongs, the range had a few in stock. When I destroyed them I the guys at the plant I used to work for to cut me gongs from the same Bennox plates we used to make Hammermill hammers for.

I really think it is important to simulate hunting conditions when training. DG hunting is all about adrenaline (especially if you do it without a PH like some of us do). Keeping your wits together, shooting hard fast and accurate when your hart is thumping, that is what DG hunting is about.
Punching holes in paper, with accuracy as a goal, is not needed. IMO

 

[ChrisG]

What size steel targets do you guys shoot? I’m assuming 0.5” thick AR500 (because that’s the biggest I can find!), what diameter, shape, etc?

I have a 1/2" AR500 gong setup in my woods right now. It has been hit with .300s, 223s, 375s, 416s.... the only thing that dented it any appreciable amount was a .72 cal 775 grain shotgun slug at 1,300fps. Everything else just dimples it a little